LONDON, Dec 28: Britain is hosting a conference of potential contributors to the United Nations-sponsored peacekeeping force for Afghanistan at an undisclosed location in the country.

Official sources say the location is being kept undisclosed for security reasons.

The ministry of defence is avoiding even to name the countries that are participating in the conference, but similar gatherings have included representatives of 16 nations including France, Germany, Spain, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Turkey, Jordan, Malaysia, and the Czech Republic.

The conference will decide on how many countries would take part in the International Security Assistance Force, and will also decide on the initial arrangements for deployment of troops in Afghanistan.

If the technical details were finalized, it seems that deployment of majority of the 6,000-strong force will begin within the next few weeks.